Engine starting apparatus



July 14, 1964 J PALMER 3,140,617

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A. DALMEIZ ATTORN EYS July 14, 1964 PALMER 3,140,617

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EH -3 4 8 1 '51 29 I '27 r ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,140,617 ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Jean A. Palmer, Kokomo, Ind. Filed Aug. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 218,789 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-6) This invention relates to engine starting apparatus, and more particularly to one-way over-running clutches designed primarily for use with automotive engine starting motors.

Engine starting apparatus in common use at the present time includes an electric motor, a driven pinion movable into mesh with the flywheel gear of the engine, and an over-running clutch for operatively connecting the motor and pinion which is released when the engine becomes self-operative and the pinion overruns the motor. Such a clutch generally comprises two concentric sleeves connected to the motor and pinion, respectively, between which rollers are received and which have a wedging action with camming surfaces formed on one or the other of such sleeves to establish a driving connection between the two sleeves. When the engine becomes self-operative, the driven sleeve overruns the driving sleeve and the clutch is released.

It has been the general practice in over-running clutches of the character referred to above, to provide a welded or copper-brazed joint between the drive pinion and the driven sleeve of the clutch. Such an assembly practice is relatively time-consuming and expensive, as Well as causing inconvenience in dismantling the apparatus and in replacing parts.

In the present invention, the sleeve and pinion are manufactured and mounted separately, and are held in engagement by means of mating longitudinal splines on the hub of the pinion and on the inside of the sleeve.

Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an engine starting appparatus which is of novel design, which is easy to assemble, and which eliminates the extra time and expense heretofore required for brazing parts together in the conventional assembly of an automotive engine starting apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross-section, showing a starting motor assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective exploded view showing the elements of the clutch mechanism of the assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical crosssectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates an electric starting motor having an armature 12 and having a frame 13 adapted to be mounted in the engine compartment of a vehicle. The armature shaft 14 extends out from the motor 11 and passes through bearing 15 provided in an end of frame 13, where the shaft 14 is rotatably supported. A stop ring 16 is provided on shaft 14 to keep the shaft from moving axially through bearing 15. Shaft 14 is provided along part of its length with an enlarged portion 17 and a second enlarged portion 18 on which are formed spiral splines 19. The enlarged rear portion 18 of the shaft carries the armature coils of the motor.

The elements of the over-running clutch are assembled on the forward portion of the shaft 14. As shown in 3,140,617 Patented July 14, 1964 detail in FIGURES 2 and 3, the clutch comprises the forward portion of shaft 14, a locking ring 20, a sheave 21, a helical biasing spring 22, a clutch sleeve 23 with rollers 24 and springs 25, a bushing 26, a washer 27, mating split washer segments 28, 28, a shell 29, an internal sleeve 30 with internal splines 31, and a pinion gear 32 with external splines 33 on its hub.

The clutch sleeve 23 is the driving sleeve of the clutch. It internally engages with the shaft 14 by means of the spiral splines 19 of the shaft, and mating splines 34 on the inside of the sleeve. At the intermediate portion 17 of the shaft 14, the bushing 26 is interposed between the shaft and the bore of the clutch sleeve 23. Clutch sleeve 23 is limited in its range of rearward axial movement by the engaging action of the bushing 26 against the forward frusto-conical shoulder formed by the enlarged shaft portion 17.

The pinion gear 32 is provided with a long hub on which the splines 33 are provided. The sleeve 30 is provided with mating internal splines 31, which engage the splines 33 of the pinion, so that sleeve 30 rotates c0ncurrently with pinion 32. Pinion 32 is journaled on the reduced forward portion of shaft 14, and is located adjacent to bushing 26 on the shaft, partly inside the outer sleeve 23.

Clutch sleeve 23 is provided with an enlarged end 23, the inner surface of which is provided with a plurality of recesses 40. One end 41 of each recess 40 is of somewhat less depth than the rest of the recess and the outer surface 42 of this part of the recess is substantially concentric with the periphery of the sleeve. A gripping roller 24 is positioned in the larger portion of the recess. Said recess is provided with the camming surface 43 between which and the outer periphery of the inner sleeve 30 the gripping roller 40 is wedged when the clutch is operative.

The teeth of pinion 32 are provided with circumferential notches 35 in which the two semi-circular halves of the split washer 28 are engaged. An annular washer 27 is positioned between the split washer segments 28 and the end face of the enlarged clutch sleeve portion 23'. An annular shell 29 covers the enlarged portion 23 of the clutch sleeve, washer 27 and split washer segments 28. The shell is provided with an inwardly extending end wall 29' which engages the washer segments 28 and is provided with the inturned retaining flange 3th at its opposite end which engages a shoulder 31' formed on enlarged sleeve portion 23 to lock the shell in the position thereof shown in FIGURE 3. The shell and washers prevent any axial movement of pinion 32 and internal sleeve 30 with respect to clutch sleeve 23. Pinion 32 and internal sleeve 39 may rotate freely in one direction with respect to clutch sleeve 23 or shaft 14.

Sheave 21 is journaled on the reduced portion of clutch sleeve 23. A helical biasing spring 22 engages the shoulder 40 of the enlarged portion 23' of the clutch sleeve at one end and engages the sheave 21 at its other end, urging the sheave rearwardly away from the shoulder 40. The sheave 21 is prevented from slipping off the sleeve by means of the locking ring 20, mounted in an annular groove 36 formed in the end of the sleeve. The sheave 21 is engaged by two lugs 50, 50 which extend perpendicularly from the fingers of a yoke 51 which is pivoted to the mounting frame 13. The upper extremity 52 of yoke 51 is linked to the plunger of a conventional solenoid 53 in such a manner that energizing the solenoid urges the sheave 21 forwardly toward the clutch sleeve shoulder 40. Suitable spring means associated with the solenoid 53, not shown, biases the yoke 51 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1.

In using the apparatus, solenoid 53 is energized, caus ing force to be exerted by the sheave 21 on the biasing gra er? spring 22. The spring 22 transmits the force to the clutch sleeve 23, and said clutch sleeve moves on shaft 14, with the pinion 32, toward the flywheel gear 60 of the engine to be started. As the sleeve 23 moves forwardly, the helical splines 19 and 34 cause it to rotate, so that the teeth of the pinion 32 mesh easily with those of flywheel gear 60.

The electric motor is then energized by conventional switch means, not shown, causing shaft 14 to rotate. Shaft 14, through the driving connection provided by the splines 34 and 19, causes clutch sleeve 23 to rotate. Rollers 24 are urged by the springs 25 into wedged positions between the camming surfaces 43 and the outer periphery of the inner sleeve 30. Thus gripped by the rollers, sleeve 30 rotates with clutch sleeve 23. As the sleeve 30 rotates, pinion 32 rotates concurrently, because of the engagement of the splines 31 and 33. Pinion 32 is engaged with engine fiywheel gear 60, so that the flywheel gear is caused to turn, thus causing the engine crankshaft to turn.

When the engine starts, pinion 32 is driven by the flywheel gear 60 to a high speed. The rollers 24 are urged back to a free position by the inner sleeve 30, and the clutch sleeve 23 becomes disengaged from the inner sleeve 30, thus preventing the armature from being driven. When the solenoid 53 is denergized, the yoke 51 pulls the sheave 22 back toward the electric motor armature coils, thus pulling the clutch sleeve 23, and the pinion 32, away from the flywheel gear 60, and disengaging pinion 32 from said flywheel gear 60.

While a specific embodiment of an improved engine starting assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitation is to be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a starting motor, a starting pinion and a one-way over-running clutch for connecting the starting motor with the starting pinion to crank an engine and for permitting the pinion to overrun the motor when the engine becomes self-operative, said clutch comprising an outer driving member adapted to be connected with the motor and an inner driven member concentrically mounted for rotation, means for connecting said driving and driven members in driving relation to each other including a plurality of roller-receiving recesses formed on the inner surface of the driving member and facing said driven member, each of said recesses having a cam surface between which and the outer periphery of the driven member a roller of predetermined diameter is adapted to be wedged when driving relation is established between the driving and driven members, said recesses each defining a first area wherein the radial distance between the driven member and the wall of the recess is substantially equal to the diameter of said roller and defining a second area wherein said radial distance is less than the diameter of said roller, a plurality of rollers, one of which is positioned in each first recess area, spring means in each second recess area engaging the roller and one end wall of said recess and exerting a force tending to move said roller to wedging position, and means connecting said inner driven member to the pinion comprising interengaging longitudinal splines on the driven member and pinion, washer means rotatably engaged with the pinion and disposed adjacent the driving member, the teeth of said pinion being formed with circumferential notches receiving said washer means, and means restraining said washer means against axial movement relative to said driving member, whereby said pinion is held by said washer means against axial movement in any direction relative to said driving member.

2. In combination, a starting motor, a starting pinion and a one-way over-running clutch for connecting the starting motor with the starting pinion to crank an engine and for permitting the pinion to overrun the motor when the engine becomes self-operative, said clutch comprising an outer driving member adapted to be connected with the motor and an inner driven member concentrically mounted for rotation, means for connecting said driving and driven members in driving relation to each other including a plurality of roller-receiving recesses formed on the inner surface of the driving member and facing said driven member, each of said recesses having a cam surface between which and the outer periphery of the driven member a roller of predetermined diameter is adapted to be wedged when driving relation is established between the driving and driven members, said recesses each defining a first area wherein the radial distance between the driven member and the wall of the recess is substantially equal to the diameter of said roller and defining a second area wherein said radial distance is less than the diameter of said roller, a plurality of rollers, one of which is positioned in each first recess area, spring means in each second recess area engaging the roller and one end wall of said recess and exerting a force tending to move said roller to wedging position, and means connecting said inner driven member to the pinion comprising interengaging longitudinal splines on the driven member and pinion, a pair of substantially semicircular annular mating washer segments rotatably engaged with the pinion, the teeth of said pinion being formed with circumferential notches receiving said washer segments, and means restraining said washer segments against axial movement relative to said driving member, whereby said pinion is held by said washer segments against axial movement in any direction relative to said driving member.

3. In combination, a starting motor, a starting pinion and a one-way over-running clutch for connecting the starting motor with the starting pinion to crank an engine and for permitting the pinion to overrun the motor when the engine becomes self-operative, said clutch comprising an outer driving member adapted to be connected with the motor and an inner driven member concentrically mounted for rotation, means for connecting said driving and driven members in driving relation to each other including a plurality of roller-receiving recesses formed on the inner surface of the driving member and facing said driven member, each of said recesses having a cam surface between which and the outer periphery of the driven member a roller of predetermined diameter is adapted to be wedged when driving relation is established between the driving and driven members, said recesses each defining a first area wherein the radial distance between the driven member and the wall of the recess is substantially equal to the diameter of said roller and defining a second area wherein said radial distance is less than the diameter of said roller, a plurality of rollers, one of which is positioned in each first recess area, spring means in each second recess area engaging the roller and one end wall of said recess and exerting a force tending to move said roller to wedging position, and means connecting said inner driven member to the pinion comprising interengaging longitudinal splines on the driven member and pinion, a pair of substantially semicircular annular mating washer segments rotatably engaged with the pinion, the teeth of said pinion being formed with circumferential notches receiving said washer segments, and an annular cover member mounted on said driving member and receiving said mating washer segments therein and restraining said washer segments against axial movement relative to said driving member, whereby said pinion is held by said washer segments against axial movement in any direction relative to said driving member.

4. In combination, a starting motor, a starting pinion and a one-way over-running clutch for connecting the starting motor with the starting pinion to crank an engine and for permitting the pinion to overrun the motor when the engine becomes self-operative, said clutch comprising an outer driving member adapted to be connected with the motor and an inner driven member concentrically mounted for rotation, means for connecting said driving and driven members in driving relation to each other including a plurality of roller-receiving recesses formed on the inner surface of the driving member and facing said driven member, each of said recesses having a cam surface between which and the outer periphery of the driven member a roller of predetermined diameter is adapted to be wedged when driving relation is established between the driving and driven members, said recesses each defining a first area wherein the radial distance between the driven member and the wall of the recess is substantially equal to the diameter of said roller and defining a second area wherein said radial distance is less than the diameter of said roller, a plurality of rollers, one of which is positioned in each first recess area, spring means in each second recess area engaging the roller and one end wall of said recess and exerting a force tending to move said roller to Wedging position, and means connecting said inner driven member to the pinion comprising interengaging longitudinal splines on the driven member and pinion, a pair of substantially semicircular annular mating washer segments rotatably engaged with the pinion, the teeth of said pinion being formed with circumferential notches receiving said washer segments, and an annular cover member mounted on said driving member and surrounding the outer peripheries of said mating washer segments, and an annular end wall on said cover member extending inwardly and being externally adjacent to said washer segments and restraining said washer segments against axial movement relative to said driving member, whereby said pinion is held by said washer segments against axial movement in any direction relative to said driving member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION, A STARTING MOTOR, A STARTING PINION AND A ONE-WAY OVER-RUNNING CLUTCH FOR CONNECTING THE STARTING MOTOR WITH THE STARTING PINION TO CRANK AN ENGINE AND FOR PERMITTING THE PINION TO OVERRUN THE MOTOR WHEN THE ENGINE BECOMES SELF-OPERATIVE, SAID CLUTCH COMPRISING AN OUTER DRIVING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE MOTOR AND AN INNER DRIVEN MEMBER CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID DRIVING AND DRIVEN MEMBERS IN DRIVING RELATION TO EACH OTHER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ROLLER-RECEIVING RECESSES FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE DRIVING MEMBER AND FACING SAID DRIVEN MEMBER, EACH OF SAID RECESSES HAVING A CAM SURFACE BETWEEN WHICH AND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE DRIVEN MEMBER A ROLLER OF PREDETERMINED DIAMETER IS ADAPTED TO BE WEDGED WHEN DRIVING RELATION IS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE DRIVING AND DRIVEN MEMBERS, SAID RECESSES EACH DEFINING A FIRST AREA WHEREIN THE RADIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DRIVEN MEMBER AND THE WALL OF THE RECESS IS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID ROLLER AND DEFINING A SECOND AREA WHEREIN SAID RADIAL DISTANCE IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID ROLLER, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS, ONE OF WHICH IS POSITIONED IN EACH FIRST RECESS AREA, SPRING MEANS IN EACH SECOND RECESS AREA ENGAGING THE ROLLER AND ONE END WALL OF SAID RECESS AND EXERTING A FORCE TENDING TO MOVE SAID ROLLER TO WEDGING POSITION, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID INNER DRIVEN MEMBER TO THE PINION COMPRISING INTERENGAGING LONGITUDINAL SPLINES ON THE DRIVEN MEMBER AND PINION, WASHER MEANS ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH THE PINION AND DISPOSED ADJACENT THE DRIVING MEMBER, THE TEETH OF SAID PINION BEING FORMED WITH CIRCUMFERENTIAL NOTCHES RECEIVING SAID WASHER MEANS, AND MEANS RESTRAINING SAID WASHER MEANS AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID PINION IS HELD BY SAID WASHER MEANS AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT IN ANY DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER. 